US355247A - backstrom - Google Patents

Description

v (No Model.) 2 She'ets-Sheet 1.

C. A. vBMKSI'ROlVL GBNTBIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

No. 355,247. Patented- Demzs, 1886.

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(No Model.) I Y 2V Sheets-'Sheet vv2.

Ci A. BACKSTRM. 'ENTRIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

N0.- 355,2 47. Patented Dec. 28, 1886,.

UNITED STATES PATENT ErrcE.

CHARLES A. BACKSTBOM, OF TRENTON, NEW` JERSEY.

vC'ENTRIFUGAL LIQUID-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,247, dated December 28, 1886.`

Application filed June 15, 1F86.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LGHARLEs ABAoKsTRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have :invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Liquid-Separators, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to centrifugal machines, and although described herein in connection with a use thereof for the purpose .of separating cream from milk, the invention is, however, capable of embodiment in centrifugal machines to be used for the purpose of separating liquids of. different specific gravities from each other and in all arts involving the necessity of a separation of liquids or liquids and solids.

Other objects of the invention, as well as its construction and operation,will be hereinafter described, and the novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to thedrawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of a centrifugal machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective of that portion of the machine which receives and delivers the separated liquids. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a' modification hereinafter described, and Fig. 4'

is a horizontal section of the separating-vessel proper, said section being taken on the line X of Fig. 1.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A represents the stand or frame-work of the machine; and it consists of a single casting having openings A A2 A3 leading into the several compartments formed by two bridges, A4, which are cast as apart of the stand A. Within each of the bridges A4, or it may be formed as a part thereof, is a pocket, B, which serves to receive a shell, C, which is one of several parts constituting the bearing for the driving-spindle D. -Within each of the shells Gis arranged a lining, E, which, as usual in hi gli-speed spindle-bearings, is adapted, by means of perforations, slots, or otherwise, for the passage therethrough of oil or other lubricating material, which is supplied in the upper end of the upper shell, C, which is formed in cup shape, as

Serial No. 205,288. (No model.)

at G'. the upper shell, C, and has loosely mounted thereon. the driving-pulley F, the lower flange, F, of which is made to project farther than the upper ilange,in order to maintain a driving-belt in connection therewith, the belt employed, preferably, being a round belt and departing from the machine horizontally.

From the hub of the pulley F there extends inwardly a screw, F2, which projects into a slot, D', formed in the spindle D, which spindle rests upon a step, G, arranged in thelower The upper lining, E, is extended below shell, C, which is continued below the pocket B, and interiorly screw-threaded to receive an adjusting-bolt, G', having a hand-wheel setnut, G2, mounted thereon, the bolt itself being operated by a pin or bar, G3, projecting therefrom. The upper.end of the lower pocket, B, is also formed in cup shape, as at B', to receive a supply of oilfrom thelower bearing and such oil as may escape frombetween the pulley and spindle and lower shell at the point where these last two elements abut against each other. The upper end of the lower lining, E, is recessed, as at E', so as (in a great measure) to prevent the escape of oil between the lower end of the pulley and that portion of the shell upon which it bears, and so as to. guide the oil along the spindle downinto thelower bearing.

The upper end of the spindle is recessed, as at D2, to receive the conical end of the separator-spindle H, whereby motiongiven to the lower spindle is conveyed to the upper spindle Y by the friction of the two upon each other.

Within the opening formed at the top of the stand is a box, I, which is suspended by means of a rubber washer, I', set in grooves formed in the inner wall of the opening of the stand and in the periphery of the box I. An oil-cup, I2, is also formed'in the top of the box I. It will be noticed that the box I is not strictly a bearingforthe shaft H, but that said shaft is of a materially less diameter thanthe bore of the box. .In other words, I provide this box merely for the purpose of preliminarily supporting or retaining the shaft in a substantially vertical position when at rest, and during the commencement of the rotation thereof when in use, as and for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The upper end of the stand A is provided IOO with a flange or shoulder, A5, upon which is mounted the delivery-vessel .I of the machine. This vessel consists of a single casting, and may or may not, as desired, be porcelainlined or otherwise treated to prevent injury to any particular liquids received therein and passing therethrough. In its make-up the deliveryvessel comprises a body portion, J, divided into two annular chambers, J' J2, by means of an inwardly and upwardly projecting flange, J5, a high-delivery pipe, J4, and a low-delivery pipe, J5. The bottom of this vessel is perforated, as at J5, for the passage of the shaft H, and is provided with a downwardlydepending flange, J l, adapted to fit upon the head of the stand and rest upon the flange A5 thereof, and to be secured in such position by means of a set-screw, J 5. l

K represents the separating-vessel, which embodies one of the important novel features of my invention in that it constitutes in itself a coil having discharge-openings projected toward the center of the vessel, and being adapted to receive liquid vdirectly therein from a receivingvessel, L, which in this instance is formed as a part of the separating vessel or chamber, or which may be, if desired, formed separately therefrom and set therein, as shown by dotted lines Y, Fig. 1. The separatingvessel consists in this instance of two castings -the one, K', forming the top or cover, and the other, K, forming the bottom, body, or main portion thereof--the former being secured to the latter by means of bolts K2, passing through the cover and into apertures K5 formed in the body portion. (See Fig. 4.)

By reference to Fig. etit will be seen that the passages formed in the separating-vessel involve the following particulars of disposition: A receiving-branch, M, into which a deliverypipe, L', from the receiving-vessel L enters. The receiving-branch extendsV radially to near the circumference of the vessel, where itis curved, as at M', and is continued, so as to conform to the circular shape of the vessel, and nearly completelyaround the same, where it is again curved, as at M2, and directly inwardly, as at M5, and thence downwardly, as at M4, and is provided with an outlet, as at M5. (See Fig. l.) rI`his description of the outlines of the passage has reference in part more particularly to its outer walls.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the area of the passage just described is enlarged inwardly on inclined (or it may be on curved) lines, so as to form openings M5, oommunicating with the interior depressed neck portion, N, of the vessel'. Thislatter portion is provided at its center with ahub, N', adapted to snugly fit the shaft H. In its bottom and opposite the outlet or discharge orifice M5 there is provided a discharge-orifice, N. These outlets or discharges M5 N2 are so arranged that the former communicates with the upper annular chamber, J', of the delivery-vessel, and the latter with the lower chamber, J5, of

said vessel. The discharge-opening M5 `is represented `in Fig. 1 as a plain orifice, thedischarging capacity of which may be varied by means o f a screw, P, which may be turned to cover more or less of said opening, and thus determine the quantity of liquid that shall pass therethrough.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modification of the means for determining the quantity of fluid which shall pass th rough the dischargeopening. In this figure the screw P is represented as simply closing a core-hole in the casting K, and the opening M5 is screw-threaded for the reception of a screw, Q, which is perforated, as at Q', and adapted to project into the discharge-passage M, more or less in accordance with the capacity of the discharge desired, as'it is apparent thatthe more milk there is discharged the purer the cream will be, and thus I can control the quality of the cream.

From the description above given and the detailed description of the conformation of the passage formed in and constituting the separating-vessel, it will be seen that it is in fact a coil having inwardly-extending branches, the entrance end of the coill being in a plane above the exit end thereof, so that by reason of the configuration of the separating-vessel centrifugal force and the attraction of gravity individually contribute their share toward a perfect separation of liquids of different specific gravities.

In a companion application, N o. 193, 725,

vfiled March 2, 1886, pending herewith, I have shown, described, and claimed the combination of a coil having inwardly extending branches with a separating vessel. In this instance I have constructed a coil which is in itself the separatingvessel. I have also in this instance disclosed other improvements in machines of this class which are adapted to be used in connection with machines embodying a coil andaseparatingvessel, as well as in machines embodying a separating-vessel,without a coil, and while I do not claim, broadly,

in this instance the subj ect-matter above mentioned as being comprised in my companion application, I do not limit my invention in all respects to a use of the same in a machine in which the separating-vessel is itself a coil.

The operation of myl invention as herein shown and described isV as follows: By any suitable means motion is given to the spindle D, which is by friction communicated to the spindle H, so as to cause the same and the separating-vessel rigidly mounted thereon to rotate. `By any Suitable well-known means milk is delivered i-nto the receiving-vessel L, and-is conducted by the pipe L directly into the coil at M, where it is by centrifugal force suspended, as it were, within the coil and within its enlargements leading to,the exits M5. During the rapid rotation of the separating-vessel the heavier portions of the liquid therein are forced outwardly from the center of rotation, and the lighter portions are directed inwardly through the openings M, when, by reason of the vertical walls of the neck portion N of the separating vessel, such lighter portions are protected from the influence of centrifugal force while falling by gravity to the bottom, and finally out of the vessel, through the orifice N 2 thereof, and into the lower annular chamber, J2, ofthe deliveryvessel, and' nally out of the pipe J5 thereof'. During this operation the heavier portions of the liquid pass through the coil or coil-passage and its downward extension M4, and nally out of the separating-chamber, through the discharge-orifice M5, and into the upper annular chamber, J', of the delivery-vessel, and out of its discharge-pipe J4. When the machine is first started, the shaft H comes into contact with the box I at. various points, and the motion of the separating-chamber is irregular until a certain speed of rotation is attained, when the said shaft runs perfectly free from contact with the box I. The lower section or shaft, D, being arranged concentrically with the upper shaft, it will be seen that the separating-vessel is supported and rotated wholly upon the lower end of the shaft D', and this in turn is wholly supported upon the step G, so that a minimum of friction is secured, and, what is fully as important, the separatingvessel and its shaft are permitted to find their own center of rotation without obstruction from any bearings -or boxes in which said shaft rotates.

The cover K', with its receiving-vessel, is so made that it forms the upper wall of the coilform liquid-passage of the separating-vessel, and when placed in position the delivery-pipe L of the receiving-vessel passes downwardly and ldirectly into the receiving end of said coil-form liquid-passage. V'Vhen, however, the receiving-chamber is made separate from the'cover K', it is only necessary to introduce the delivery-pipe ofthe receiving-chamberV Vinto the receiving end of the coil-form liquidpassage-at the time of placing the receivingchamber upon the cover.

Hereto'fore receiving-vessels have been made for the reception of the drum and with a lateral flange for supporting the same, and'with its discharge-pipes depending below and within the area of the flange. Bymy construction one advantage secured is that the separated liquids may be received in a receptacle or receptacles outside of the frame-work.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claim is 1. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingchamber having a coil-shaped passage pro- Y vided with outlets disposed toward the center of rotation of the chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingchamber having a passage of coil form provided with outlets disposed toward the center ofthe vessel, and having an inlet to said passage arranged in a plane above the outlet thereof, substantially as specified.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel having a passage of coil form provided with outlets projecting toward and leading into the center of the vessel, which center is depressed below the general plane of the coil and provided with an outlet, substantially as specified.

4. In a centrifugal machine, the combination, with aseparating-vessel having a passage of coil form provided with outlets disposed toward the center of the vessel, and having the receiving end of the coil in a plane above the delivery end thereof, of a delivery-vessel having annular chambers arranged one above the other and each provided with a separate discharge-pipe, substantially as specified.

5. The delivery-vessel herein shown and described, consisting of a single casting open at the top for the reception of a separating chamber or bowl of a centrifugal machine, provided with a depending flange at its bottom for connection with a frame or standard, di-

vided into separate annular chambers, each of v which is provided with a laterally-extending discharge-pipe and provided with a central opening for the passage of the shaft of the drum. substantially as specified.

6. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a frame or stand having an annular flange at its top, a delivery-vessel having a depending flange adapted to fit theA stand, a separating-vessel and its shaft, and a boxing bored larger than the shaft and arrangedin the frame, substantially as specified.

7. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel formed with a liquid-passage of coil form, in combination with a cover for the same, and with a receiving-vessel having a delivery- Ipipe extending into the receiving end of the

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